Ever since I was a little girl there has been a place in my
heart for Israel and the Jewish people. I became a believer in Yeshua at the
age of five and loved Him with all my heart.
Since that time that love has grown so deeply and wonderfully. Yeshua is my husband and I would be lost
without Him in my life. At an early age
I decided that if Yeshua was Jewish then I wanted to love all Jewish people
because they are His family and a part of my family. I knew this really made Him happy and that
was what I wanted more than anything.
Throughout my life He has directed my steps, opened up opportunities,
and taught me much about the Jewish people.
In 2009, my daughter was going to go to Israel with YWAM and
so I asked Yeshua if I could be there with her.
He said yes, and provided a way for me to go. As the plane landed on the runway in Tel
Aviv, I heard Him say you are home, and I began to cry. That trip was the start of this adventure He
has me on now. The land came to life for
me and I did not want to leave. I came
home and He continued to open my heart for the Jewish people and Israel. I knew I would go back but I had no idea when
that would happen.
In January of 2014 I heard Him say I want you to go to
Harvest School in Mozambique, Africa. I
asked Him why and He told me, if I didn't go now I would never realize my
destiny with Him. Once I applied and was
accepted I had the opportunity to go on outreach with a team after the school
was completed. When I saw that Israel
was one of the choices for outreach I knew this was how He would get me back
into the land. So in the summer of 2014
I spent 2 months in Israel and the Lord did amazing things in my heart. When it was time to leave, He asked me if I
would be willing to come back in the spring of 2015 for an extended time. Of course, I said yes.
While in Israel those 2 months last summer, Yeshua showed me
the hearts of the people and what they are feeling and experiencing living in
the land with the threat of war, persecution, rejection, hatred, and the list
goes on. I especially saw the hearts of
the young men and women who are believers in Yeshua, the pain, hurt, and loss
of identity they carry. He also allowed
me to feel a small portion of His heart for them at times, which was
overwhelming. Since I have been home
they have been on my heart and in my prayers.
Also while there in the land the Lord opened up
opportunities for me to minister and counsel with leaders of ministries there
who have been disappointed, heartbroken, worn down, and wondering why they are
even there. Life can be difficult in
Israel and can wear on every part of you.
It is my prayer that when I go back I will be able to help
both of these groups of people at some point in the future. Although I know the Lord can open up opportunities
to serve, minister, and counsel, I also understand the importance of building
relationships and trust through community and spending time just being there
and being present, stopping for the one in front of me. Many people come and go so often; there is not
enough time for relationship and trust is hard to build.
That being said, the Lord is telling me to go to Israel with
the sole intention of serving the people, living in community with them, and
learning the language for at least the first year. The “plan” so far, as much as it can be, is
to volunteer/serve in the local Messianic Congregation in Jerusalem, (King of
Kings Congregation) in whatever capacity the Lord opens up for me and to go to
Hebrew University in Jerusalem to study the Hebrew language during the summer
months.
This means I will be leaving at the end of March and
arriving in Jerusalem on April 1st.
I will need housing and that looks like it will be about $1000 dollars a
month. I will live and serve in
Jerusalem until the end of June when my three month tourist visa expires at
which time I begin Hebrew language classes at Hebrew University. The classes
along with housing on campus will be around $4,500. By doing this I will be
able to stay in the land on a school visa until the classes end at the end of
August. I will return home for the month
of September and hope to leave again in October to go back possibly with a
volunteer/work visa through the King of Kings Congregation.
These “plans” are subject to change and get revised at any
moment because I have learned to expect the unexpected and to continually be
flexible to the leading of the Lord. However,
I will go on what He is showing me right now as that is always the best route
to take.
One of the most important things I learned at Harvest School
last summer was to go low and slow and be teachable. This means taking the time to get to know the
people and the culture so that I can understand their needs as well as God’s
heart for them. My desire is to develop trust, relationship, and community with
the people that God has so heavily laid on my heart.
If you would like to join me in this adventure with God and
sow into the land of Israel you can either support me with a one-time gift or a
reoccurring monthly gift. Any support I
get will go toward housing, school tuition, and daily expenses, as well as
giving gifts, tithes, and offerings as the Lord leads.
There are a couple of ways to give as you feel led:
1. 1. Checks made out to me, Suzanne Singleton, and
sent to:
Brenda Marshall, 1009 Cashmere, Thompson’s
Station, TN 37179
(Keep in mind PayPal does charge me a 5% fee on
each donation to use their service)
Unfortunately right now there is no tax deductible way to
give.
I also need intercessors to stand with me, covering me in
prayer and encouragement daily. I will
be updating everyone monthly through email on what the Lord is doing and to let
you know of the needs that may arise. If
you would like to receive my monthly newsletter
feel free to email me at jehovahraphaislord@yahoo.com
May God richly bless each one of you!
Shalom!
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